[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260313F01E2B-66":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},66,7,"Chapter 7: A Teacher's Concern and a Father's Fears","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Selena’s previous music teacher at her after-school program was a real gem. He made learning fun, playing along with the kids, and it really sparked her interest in music.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But Valentina thought it was a waste of time. She was all about results, believing that learning a song by heart was way more practical than nurturing a kid’s passion. So, she axed the class and made Selena focus on specific pieces instead.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Personally, I felt it was way better for a child to discover their interests at their own pace, happily.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">So, I took Selena to find that teacher, Benjamin Foster.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After just two meetings, I clocked Benjamin as pretty shy. Seriously, this grown man would blush after just a few words with me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He only perked up and really opened up when he talked about music or interacted with the kids.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Aurora tagged along once and swore he had a crush on me, even going so far as to say he wanted to be Selena’s stepfather.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I brushed it off. No way. He had only recently graduated, and my Selena was already seven. What guy his age would be into me?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Aurora just smiled, saying I wasn't noticing the way he looked at me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I didn't think much of it. Honestly, dating was the last thing on my mind.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My divorce wasn't even finalized yet.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Life without having to constantly cater to a man was too good, and I wasn't ready to give that up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian dragged out the divorce proceedings for another two weeks before finally showing up with Valentina in tow.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I was just about to pick Selena up from her class when Sebastian intercepted me at the door, pulling Valentina along to apologize.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Valentina has never really taken care of a child before, and she went way too far in disciplining Selena. I brought her here to apologize to you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I have no idea what Sebastian had said to Valentina, but I’d never seen her look so genuinely resentful.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She offered a reluctant apology, begging for my forgiveness, repeating that she hadn't known better, acted on impulse, and only wanted what was best for Selena.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Even if she’s never been a mother, she's definitely been a child. You don't know pain until you’ve experienced it yourself.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I couldn't stomach her insincere apology any longer and turned to leave.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian grabbed my hand.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Natalie...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He held onto me, but the words wouldn't come.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I hadn't seen him this hesitant in years.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Back when we first got together, he'd constantly try to read my mood, wondering if he'd messed up whenever I seemed upset.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Later, after we married, Sebastian morphed from that shy young man into the decisive Mr. Walker. I started watching his moods, trying to make him feel more comfortable at home.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Now, he was putting on this whole performance of deep affection, clearly hoping I’d say something to give him an easy way out.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But I wasn't going to play that game anymore. I shook off his hand and headed straight for the garage.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Valentina was seething at my attitude and rushed to block my path.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Can't you see Sebastian has something to say to you? How could you treat him like this—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Enough!\" Sebastian cut off Valentina’s tirade. \"This doesn't concern you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Valentina froze, stunned. Sebastian had been chewing her out for the past two weeks over Selena. She knew she messed up with Selena, but she never in a million years expected him to scold her because of me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After all, no matter how much Valentina had driven me crazy before, Sebastian never blamed her. He’d always smooth things over to placate me—including that whole mess with the red high heels.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Sebastian... I just can't stand how she treats you. She has no idea what you've been through these days—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"This is between my wife and me. It's none of your business.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The word \"wife\" hit Valentina like a ton of bricks. She stumbled back two steps, then turned and bolted, tears streaming down her face.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I honestly didn't want to get dragged into their little drama; it had zero to do with me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I’d only taken a few steps when my phone buzzed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was Selena’s music teacher, Benjamin Foster. He told me Selena seemed off today, that something might be wrong.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Aurora had been near Selena's school for work and offered to pick her up on her way to her own class. She happened to bump into Benjamin there, so they went to get Selena together.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The moment Selena stepped out of school, Benjamin could tell something was up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I raced to the school and found Benjamin crouched down, trying to comfort Selena and cheer her up. Only then did I finally breathe a sigh of relief.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What exactly happened?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Seeing me, Selena practically flew into my arms. Benjamin looked serious.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Selena was bullied at school. I'm not sure if it was by other kids or a teacher.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian had followed me, and upon hearing Selena had been bullied, his immediate reaction was to grill Benjamin about who he was and what his relationship was with me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I ignored his ridiculous questioning.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Grabbing him by the collar with a ferocity he'd never seen, I looked him dead in the eye:\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Sebastian, this is your family's kindergarten. If I find out your family had anything to do with this, you're going to regret it!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The thought of it broke my heart. Over the years, I'd spent so little time with my daughter, and I had no idea how much she’d been suffering.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Benjamin stepped in to calm us down, suggesting we figure out what happened first.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I took Benjamin’s advice, but Sebastian kept hounding him about why he was there.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It wasn't until he learned Benjamin was a recent graduate, only two years out of school, and Selena’s music teacher that he finally seemed to relax.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272924793]